gnucash accounts to track roommate expenses?

[James Howison]

Hi,

I would probably try to do it like this (two methods), although IANAA 
(....Accountant):

Assuming 100 Utilities expenses split in two, paid for by one cheque:

Method 1
--------
Start in checking account.
Transfer $100 to Expenses:Utilities

Jump to Utilities account
Transfer $50 *Rebate* to Assets:Accounts Receivable:Owed by Roommate

Now this will reflect the true situation - your expenses were $50 and 
you are owed $50.

When paid:
Transfer $50 from Assets:Accounts Receivable:Owed by Roommate to 
Assets:Checking.

Method 2 (less messy - but you can't track exactly what your roommate 
owes you for
- though a good description will help)
--------
Start in Checking
Check 110 $100 - Split
Transfer $50 to Expenses:Utilities
Transfer $50 to Assets:Accounts Receivable:Owed by Roommate

When paid:
Transfer $50 from Assets:Accounts Receivable:Owed by Roommate to 
Checking.

Your checking account will balance either way :)

The advantage of either method below is that if you use the method 
below your expenses will show as $100 ($50 more than they actually 
were) and your income will show $50 higher than it actually was.  It 
will still balance, of course, but won't allow you to track your 
expenses properly...

Cheers
James


On Thursday, January 23, 2003, at 08:23  AM, Dale Alspach wrote:

> Normally you would use an income account, e.g., reimbursements
> from roommate, to be the other account
> for accounts receivable. When you get paid, you move the money
> from one asset (accounts receivable) to another (cash, checking,
> etc.).
>
> Dale Alspach
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